The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-05-07

ment; even dancing parties are inter
spersed with songs, recitations, etc, for
the amusement of the elders of the
family. who sit around tables, socially
slipping their coffee, or other favorite
beverage, while the younger members
glide over the waxen floor to the fitful
strains of music. Here the young must
make the best of their opportunities, for
when it pleases the parents to seek the
quiet solace of the home, the daughters
also quit the gayety of the ballroom.
Parents here certainly have a response
biity in raising a family of daughters,
but are no doubt comforted by the
thought that
1.-THE hand that rocks the cradle,
Is the hand that rules the world"
The betrothal which sometimes con
tinues for years, is considered as bind
ing as the marriage ceremony and is sell
dom broken, The good news is duly
communicated to all the friends and
acquaintance by printed letter, signed
by the parties interested and their
parents; notification of the fact is made
in a special column of the city's news
papers. To become a benedict in this
watery cline is enough to make the
stoutest heart quake, as below the age
of 30 the permission of parents is essen
| tial and if death have removed them,
| the 'Evoogden" or guardians have to ex-
press their satisfaction. An elopement
has never taken place in the Netherlands.
Three weeks before the wedding day the
couple, accompanied by their parents or
guardians proceed to the City Hall and
make their intentions known to the
proper official, when legal notice of
his intention is placed in a frame in
front of the Court House, remaining there
for twenty days. The interval between
the notification and the bridal day is a
period of uninterrupted festivities, the
families of bride and groom vieng with
each other in giving dinners and dancing
parties.
In this city three days in
the week are set apart for
wedding days; Wednesday, Thurs
day and Saturday. Wednesday the
lower classes marry, as no expense is at
tachcd to the ceremony. Thursdays
marriage costs % guldens, and on Satur-
day double that amount, or $50. At
last the wedding day arrives; flowers and
evergrccus are strewn in front of the
house; the young couple, attended by
relatives and friends, proceed to the stad
hu;s, where the marriage knot is tied by
the Mayor he being the only one allowed
to perform the civil ceremony. Immedi-
ately after a religious ceremony takes
place. The necessary ceremonies being
concluded, the party proceed to cafe
or hall, those musically inclined singing
lively songs on the way, and the others
gaily responding to the facet@ and con
gratulations of the passers by. When
all are indoors large silver bowl, used
only at births and marriage feasts (and
loaned if not ownedD filed with brande-
wyn and raisins, is brought forth and
circulated among the guests, who drink
the liquor with an iron spoon. After
ward substantial dinner is given, last
ing, interspersGd with singing, dancing
and amateur thcatricals, etc, until the
following day, and to leave the festive
board before the dawn is considered IN
decorous.
To marry by proxy or, as it is called,
marriage by the glove, is prevalent in
Holland, and is caused by the fact that
many of the eligible young men, after
having flashed their education in the
schools of the Fatherlaud, depart for
Dutch India to engage in some lucrative
commercial enterprise or to accept a po-
sition in the colonial service. The
scarcity of manageable white ladies in
that cline induces the would be husband
to write to friend in Holland, inclosing
a wish for wife. The friend selects u
willing young lady, generally with sub
stantial dot and otherwise conforming
closely to the specifications of the letter.
A photograph of the favored one is in
closed in the return epistle. After the
Iapse of few months, a soiled left hand
Glove. with power Of attorney Is re-